Sectoral factsheets for climate change

United Nations 2 years ago

The world is warming faster than at any point in recorded history. This is radically changing the Earth’s climate and releasing a wave of extreme weather, including wildfires, hurricanes, floods and droughts. But humanity can still avoid the worst impacts of this climate crisis. To do that, the Earth’s temperature must be prevented from rising to more than 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. The only way to avoid catastrophic climate change is to rapidly slash our emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide. These emissions, which come largely from burning fossil fuels, have continued to rise in recent decades despite a raft of international accords, including the Paris Agreement. To keep the 1.5°C temperature target alive, the world needs to cut 2030 emissions by 42 per cent. This must be done in tandem with climate adaptation. National Adaptation Plans in particular, are crucial for ensuring climate resilience is built into each of the sectors. By 2025, every country must commit to new National Determined Contributions (NDCs), these NDCs must cover all emissions and sectors. Global ambition in the next round of NDCs must bring global greenhouse gas emissions in 2035 to levels consistent with the 1.5°C pathway. Explore these factsheets to learn how.
→ View Full Article

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 2 hours ago



BloombergNEF estimates the EU, UK and Norway must mobilise about $1.3 trillion annually to remain on a credible 2050 pathway, making the built environment a frontline priority. Deep retrofit, electrified heat, sturdier grids and climate adaptation now determine balance sheet resilience as much as operational performance. UK support for small-scale biomass has lapsed without replacement, signalling a shift toward technologies that prove sustainability and system value. Hydropower retains a role where environmental safeguards hold; biomass must meet robust criteria. Recent Himalayan floods underscore that resilience is part of the brief, not a discretionary line item. Designing for cascading hazards, redundancy and social equity is cheaper than rebuilding.

Investment and procurement need to prize whole life carbon, life cycle cost and lifecycle assessment. Clients and supply chains should embed whole life carbon assessment, cut embodied carbon through low embodied carbon materials and embodied carbon in materials verified by environmental product declarations (EPDs), and scale circular economy in construction via circular construction strategies, resource efficiency in construction and end-of-life reuse in construction. Targets for net zero whole life carbon and net zero carbon buildings require sustainable building design, eco-design for buildings, sustainable design and low carbon design aligned with BREEAM and BREEAM v7. Priorities include energy-efficient buildings, low carbon construction materials, renewable building materials, green building materials and green building products within sustainable material specification. Programmes that integrate green infrastructure, nature-based risk management and building lifecycle performance will accelerate decarbonising the built environment, deliver carbon neutral construction, reduce the carbon footprint of construction and mitigate the environmental impact of construction while advancing sustainable construction, eco-friendly construction, sustainable building practices and sustainable urban development.

Show More

camera_altFeatured Instagram Posts:

Get your opinion heard:

Whole Life Carbon is a platform for the entire construction industry—both in the UK and internationally. We track the latest publications, debates, and events related to whole life guidance and sustainability. If you have any enquiries or opinions to share, please do get in touch.

Let's chat!
Avatar

WLC Assistant

Ask me about sustainability

Hi! I'm your Whole Life Carbon assistant. I can help you learn about sustainability, carbon assessment, and navigate our resources. How can I help you today?